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Alcohol crackdown nets 1,500 arrests

Nationwide crackdown - police says more than 1,500 people were arrested (file photo)

Dean Saffron: AAP

Police around the nation have arrested more than 1,500 people over the weekend as part of a blitz on alcohol-fuelled violence.

Operation Unite saw more than 380 arrests in New South Wales, which is less than last year.

Queensland police arrested about 300 people, Victoria recorded 200 arrests and in Western Australia 800 people were arrested.

WA Inspector Bill Munnee says the statistics have been higher this year than in past years.

"We are sick and tired of directing our main effort to the minority of people who are selfish and irresponsible when the majority of their communities are law-abiding citizens," he said.

But Queensland police were more positive about the operation, with Acting Inspector Rhys Wildman saying most people were well-behaved.

"The staffing numbers we've had on the ground have certainly had an impact on the incidents of violence. The arrests are certainly down on previous operation unites, which is very encouraging," he said.